Men's Basketball | 3/2/2016 1:06:00 PM

GLVC Men's Basketball Postseason Award List

Romeoville, Ill. - The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced on Wednesday (March 3) that Lewis University guard Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) has been selected as the GLVC Men's Basketball Co-Freshman of the Year in a league-wide vote of head coaches. Blaylock shares the award with Southern Indiana guard Alex Stein.

UW-Parkside senior guard Andy Mazurczak was named the GLVC Player of the Year, while his coach Luke Reigel was selected as the GLVC Coach of the Year. Bellarmine senior forward George Suggs is the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year.

Blaylock is Lewis' third GLVC Freshman of the Year in the past five seasons, joining both teammate Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) and Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield). Strus won the award in 2015, while Jackson garnered the honor is 2012.

The Wyoming, Mich., native is fourth on the squad in scoring (11.9 ppg.) and is third on the team in rebounds (5.9 rpg). He has scored in double-figures in 19 out of 29 contests and 20+ points in four games. Blaylock is the leading freshman rebounder in the GLVC.

He was named the GLVC Player of the Week for the period ending February 21st, as he averaged 21.5 points-per-game and shot 59.1% (13-for-22) from the field and 58.3% (7-for-12) from three-point range. He was the first freshman in four years to be named GLVC Player of the Week.

"Delaney has worked very hard and has gotten better and better as the year went on," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "Being thrown into the starting lineup (as a freshman) is never easy, but (Delaney) has exceeded expectations. 

"He has had a tremendous season and I look forward to Delaney developing into one of the better players in the GLVC."

Strus, an All-GLVC Second Team selection as a freshman in 2015, was a unanimous choice to the All-GLVC First Team as a sophomore. The sophomore forward leads the Flyers in scoring (20.0 ppg.), rebounds (8.9 rpg.), assists (3.6 apg.) and steals (1.2 spg.). He leads the GLVC in rebounding, double-doubles (11), is third in scoring, 12th in blocked shots (0.86 bpg.) and is 13th in the conference in assists.

Earlier this season, Strus broke the Lewis single-game scoring record and tied the GLVC scoring record with a 52-point outburst, including a 12-for-14 performance from three-point range, in a 99-95 win over Northwood (Nov. 24). That performance helped guide Strus to USBWA National Player of the Week honors. He needs seven points against Indianapolis on Friday (March 5) to reach 1,000 career points in just two years in a Flyer uniform.

Strus needs 28 points to break Lewis' school-record for points in a single-season in the NCAA Division II era. He also needs to make 23 more free throws to break the Lewis single-season record for charity shots made.

"Max has had a fantastic season," Trost said. "After winning (GLVC) Freshman of the Year last year, he made the leap from not only being one of the premier players in the GLVC, but in the country."

Nelson has registered career-highs in both points-per-game (13.1 ppg.) and rebounds (6.5 rpg.) during his senior campaign. He has scored in double-figures in 17 of Lewis' 29 games this season, including eight games of 20+ points or more.  Nelson, who earlier this season became the 40th Flyer in school-history to score 1,000-points, is 10th in the GLVC in rebounding.

"I am really happy that Kyle was recognized by the GLVC coaches as one of the better players in our league," Trost said. "He has persevered and has worked extremely hard at developing his game.

"He has been an outstanding leader for this team and I am very proud of Kyle."

Trost is thrilled for his players.

"I think all three of these young men are very deserving of their award," Trost said. "More importantly, they all exemplify what is good about collegiate athletics, because they are great guys both on and off the court."

Lewis is back in action on Friday (March 5), as the Flyers meet Indianapolis in the GLVC Quarterfinals for the second-straight season. Tip-off is set for 2:30 PM at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.